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Gyuh! That... That reaper's whirlwind... And that hairclip... Y-you're Gavial!
The one and only!
Damn it. Just our luck, running into you.
But don't get ahead of yourself, Gavial! Not even you could shake our faith in thick tails!
Yeah, you're such hot shit! Keep running!
Doctor, let's move. I can sort them out the next time I see them.
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Gavial, how come you let them go?
You used to chase down every last person in a fight and beat them until they saw stars.
Yeah. I used to do that.
But nah, now I just think they're kind of cute. Right, Doctor?
No idea what you're saying, but I agree.
Might sound strange coming from me, but this place is full of nothing but boneheads.
Ah, whatever. Have to think all the goddamn time outside. I almost miss it here.
......
Hey, Doctor, don't tell me you're a thick tail lover?
'Cause we're not gonna see eye-to-eye on that!
Cuter than you breaking them in half.
Hah! Well, thinking they're cute won't stop me beating the tar outta them.
They're not... uh... what's the word...? Mutually exclusive!
Gavial... you really have changed.
Mm? Hold on, Tomimi, you little brat.
Eh?
I go away for a couple years and I come back to find your tail's even fatter.
Wh-wh-whuh?!
Gonna try and tell me you're with thick tails, too?
No no no no! It's not like I wanted it to grow so thick!
*Whimper* I want a nice, thin tail just like Gavial's...
Well, shucks. *Clicks tongue* What a poor kid you are.
Though watching you fight back there, your Arts are pretty strong now, huh?
R... Really?!
Yeah. Come over to Rhodes Island and be an operator. Should be no problem for you.
Ope... rator?
Operators are, uh... Well, I guess it's a job. Like me, I'm a Medic Operator.
I remember you were still learning from the shamans when I left, right?
Yep! I've been disciplining myself every day for you, Gavial, so one day you'd come back!
For me?
Oh... um, by that, I mean, for when you come back so I could help you out! Like I did just now!
Well, damn. You really did help out, then. Well done.
Eheheh... I love when you compliment me.
Cool. Let's keep moving then. Do I remember the Temple's just ahead?
Mm-hm.
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Eunectes has to be the Great Chief, c'mon. Look at how strong the whole tribe is.
Yeah, and she's top of the pile. Everyone said if not Gavial, then Eunectes, and now Gavial's gone...
Hey, over there!
No way... Gavial?
Hey, Gavial! You're finally back!
Whoa! Long time no see, huh!
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Hey, that feather on your waist is nice! Where'd it come from?
Traded one of my weapons to Inam for it.
Man, your tribe really has it good. Inam can get her hands on anything. I wish I could be with you guys too.
Too bad. Inam hates crowds. But if there's anything you guys want, you can go through me!
Deal! ...Hey. Look over there.
Is that... wait, it's Gavial!
She's actually back?!
Gavial! So you weren't dead!
Alive and well, baby!
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Brother, come on. Stop trying to make a show. You've got the Stone Disease and all. Just go back home and lie down, okay?
Who cares! What's a little disease in the face of the ceremony?!
A little disease is still disease! And think about how bad it'd be for us if you went out there and showed everyone the rocks growing on your tail!
Look, Gavial might be gone, but now Zumama's sure to be the next Great Chief!
That's the part I care about! I need to witness the moment Zumama becomes Chief!
Damnit, I should have listened to Zumama... huh? Brother, look over there!
It couldn't be. Is that... Gavial?!
Has she come back to become Great Chief?
...I'm sorry, but now I HAVE to see the ceremony.
Yeah. I don't think anyone can miss this now.
Huh? Those two look like they're from the Eunectes tribe...
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It really is Gavial! You're finally back!
I always believed in you, Gavial!
Hey, everyone, look! It's Gavial!
Gavial! Gavial! Gavial!
Whew, what a rowdy bunch... Looks like we oughta pick up the pace.
Mm-hm! Everyone loves the ceremony, after all. And everyone loves Gavial too!
Oh. Gavial, look at that sign there.
Lemme see. Tch, goddamned scratchy handwriting... Oh, look at that. It says 'Mahuizzotia.'
We're here.
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Wait. What gives with the music?
And for that matter, why do I recognize it...
Wait! Doctor, this is an AUS song, isn't it?!
Definitely.
Well, damn.
I'm not totally sure myself, but I've definitely heard people playing this before.
......
Snap out of it, Doctor! Don't just walk in!
Is it?
Lots of AUS fans at Rhodes Island. That's gotta be it.
Ah. Yep, this is an AUS song.
How do you know what AUS is?!
Around this time last year, a bunch of strange people calling themselves AUS came here from the outside.
They held a concert at Inam's tribe first. After that, a whole lot of Tiacauh started treating them like heralds of the Mahuizzotia.
Huh?
Later on, they were asked to stay for a long performance in the Temple surroundings.
I got to hear them once. Their music really was powerful, and beautiful... you could feel their awesome Arts, too.
Ever since, lots of Tiacauh fell in love with this kind of music.
And then suddenly one day, they disappeared. Everyone said they'd gone back to their ancestors' embrace.
But I knew they'd only left, same as Gavial had.
The music playing right now should be coming from those 'speaker' things they left here. I think they also left behind some of their albums?
Speakers?
Yep. They need Arts to function, so only priests and shamans can actually use them, and most of them are in Inam's tribe.
Hahaha! Now that's a band of freewheelers.
Can't deny, their songs really get up in there. I haven't even stepped in and they've got my blood running hot. I think I'm beginning to like them!
Let's go, Doctor! We're gonna hear some music and enjoy a hell of a show!
